Brush-type applicator



Dec. 8, 1970 G. SCHWARTZMAN ,3

' BRUSHTYPE APPLICATOR Filed Mayfil, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 611.5227 SCHWARTZ/1AA! BY/W ATTORNEY 1970 e. SCHWARTZMAN BRUSH-TYPE APPLICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 31, 1968 INVI N l on Q9/155 .fiMmerz/w/v ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,545,874 BRUSH-TYPE APPLICATOR Gilbert Schwartzman, 20 Wilmot Circle, Scarsdale, N.Y. 10583 Filed May 31, 1968, Ser. No. 733,425

Int. Cl. B43m 11/06" US. Cl. 401-186 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A brush headed applicator comprising a squeeze container having a valve member disposed in the container neck. The valve member includes an outwardly flared resilient valve head and a ring of larger diameter than the neck opening with means in the container for holding the ring in a predetermined position spaced from a valve seat so that helical coil springs integrally interconnecting the valve head and ring are continuously maintained under compression.

This invention relates to an applicator especially adapted for use in applying cosmetic, medications, shoe polish or other fluids on the person, clothing, shoes, and the like of the user, and more particularly, to an applicator having a brush head adapted to be used in applying fluids in an eflicacious manner.

In the past, applicators have been produced which are provided with applicator ends serving to actuate valves. Previously, however, it has not been possible to provide an applicator having a brush head with a valve which can be efliciently controlled by the brush head and yet which will permit the brush head to revolve and to be movable and to be resiliently mounted in a manner so as to efliciently apply fluid while also metering the fluid flow in a suitably controlled manner and in addition which will prevent suck back of material which has already passed beyond the valve.

It is therefor an important object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art devices by providing an applicator which includes a retaining ring having a projecting portion adapted to fit into a container and which rotatably carries a brush head having bores therethrough, which brush head serves to actuate the valve assembly and which brush head is constantly urged to a closed position to prevent suck back.

One of the important features of an embodiment of the invention resides in the resilient bellows means which mounts the brush head for movement toward and away from the retaining ring to actuate the valve means and in the tapered construction of the web for feeding fluid back into the container when a cap is placed thereon.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an applicator designed for use with a squeeze bottle wherein resilient means normally urge the brush head toward a valve seat to close a valve.

The construction of an embodiment of this invention features the use of a valve assembly which is normally urged by helical springs under stress into a closed position so that only upon application of the pressure due to squeezing of the tube or other container can material flow in either direction with the squeezing of the container being the only practical means for opening the valve assembly.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of an anti-suck back device in connection with a valve head having a brush thereon for use with squeezable containers for applying or metering fluids, pastes or jellies, that is simple in construction, capable of being used on various types of containers, and which is inexpensive to manufacture, thereby permitting wide use and distribution.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of this invention, which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this anti-suck back device for tubes, preferred embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the brush-type applicator;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. I, but showing the cap in its closed position;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken along the plane of line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the plane of line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the brush-type applicator in an overturned position for applying fluid onto a surface;

FIG. 6 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a longiutdinal sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, but after the squeeze-type container has been depressed for the application of fluid;

FIG. 8 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of a further modified form of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a partial longitudinal sectional detail view illustrating the applicator of FIG. 8 in use for application of fluid; and,

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along the plane of line 10-10 in FIG. 9.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, and with initial reference to the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the applicator comprising the present invention. This applicator includes a container 12 in which a retainer ring 14 is positioned. The retainer ring includes a projecting portion 15 designed to fit in the neck of the container and includes a resilient bellows integrally formed as part of the retainer ring 14 and in fluid tight relationship to the retaining ring 14.

The retaining ring 14 is provided with a web 26 which has an opening 28 therein. Cooperating with the valve opening 28, which serves as a valve seat, is a tapered valve body of an integrally molded valve assembly generally indicated at 24. The valve assembly includes a valve stem as well as the applicator head generally indicated at 34. The web has its upper surface tapered downwardly and inwardly for feeding fluid above the web toward the opening 28.

The applicator head 34 is disposed above the retainer ring 14 and the bellows 20 has its upper flange 35 swaged thereabout. The bellows 20 are resilient and normally under compression and urge the applicator head away from the retainer ring 14. The applicator head is provided with a plurality of bores 36 therethrough so that liquid material passing through the valve opening 28 and into the space 38 defined by the retained ring 14 including the web 26 thereof, the bellows 20, and the applicator head 34 can pass through the bores 36 and onto the bristles 40 disposed on the outer surface of the applicator head 34.

The container 12 has its neck 13 threaded as at 17 for threaded reception of a cap 46 which is internally threaded at 48. Depending from the top 50 of the cap is a cylindrical projection 52 which is designed and shaped to engage the head 34 and overlie and close the openings 36 which are arranged circularly in a spaced relationship. When the cap is completely closed, the projection 52 engages the head 34 and depresses the head 54 so that fluid in space 58 can drain through the opening 28 and all fluid will pass into the container due to the sloping surface 29 of the web 26.

In use, as can be seen best in FIG. 5, engagement of the bristles 40 on a surface will open the valve head 30 permitting fluid to pass in the direction of arrows 66 and 77.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, reference numeral 110 is used to generally desig mate a squeezable container preferably molded in two pieces 111 and 113 from plastic material or the like and having an anti-suck back device generally indicated by 112. The container 110 is filled with any suitable material 116 such as various types of liquids or jellies or the like.

The upper part 113 of the container 110 includes a tapering concave shoulder portion 118 terminating in a neck 120 which is preferably externally threaded at 122 for receiving a cap 123 thereon. The neck 120 has an opening 124 therethrough having a tapered enlargement 126 forming a tapered valve seat 128. A shoulder 129 is undercut in the further enlargement 127.

The anti-suck back device 112 includes a valve member 130 having substantially truncated conical valve head 132, a valve stem or rod 134, a ring 136, and helical springs 138, all integrally molded with each other.

The valve rod 134 is provided with a flange or enlargement 144 from which the helical spring members 138 rise. The anti-suck back device 112 is inserted in the container 110 with the ring 136 engaging the shoulder 128.

It is noted that the springs 138 are constantly under compression thereby continuously urging the valve head 132 against the inner peripheral edge of the shoulder 128. The valve head 132 is provided with bristles 150.

In use, the container 110 is closed by the anti-suck back device. Squeezing on the walls of the container 110 Will cause fluid to pass through the relatively large opening 166 of the ring 136 and thence passed the valve head 132 which it will lift against the compressive forces on the springs 138. Release of the container will permit the helical springs 138 to force the valve head 132 back to its closed position.

In FIGS. 8-10, there is shown a modified form of the invention in which a squeeze container 210 is provided with a neck 212 having external threads 214 thereon for receiving a cap 215, has a retaining ring 216 disposed therein. The retaining ring 216 is of generally cylindrical shape having a projecting portion 218 extending into the neck 212 and having a web 224 provided with a tapered opening therein forming valve seat 225, which opening is smaller at the top than at its bottom. Integrally formed with the web 224 is an outer flange 226 adapted to seat on the neck 212.

The web 224 extends inwardly from the uppermost end of the retaining ring 216. The retaining ring has a cylindrical fluted guide portion 237 in which the disc shape 4 part 239 of a valve head 250 is guided by constrained for vertical movement.

The applicator further includes a valve assembly 248 which includes the valve head 250 so arranged that the tapered peripheral surface 251 thereof will engage the valve seat 225 to form a fluid tight seal. The valve head 250 has bristles 253 thereon and is integrally formed and integrally connected with a ring 252 by means of three resilient flexible helical springs 254 integrally molded as part of the valve assembly 248. The springs 254 are continuously under compression thus urging the valve head 250 into engagement with the valve seat 225. The ring is swaged in place at the lower end of the projection portion 218.

In use, depressing the bristles will cause fluid flow outwardly of the applicator during application. Release will permit the spring 254 under compression to urge the valve head 250 back into its closed position.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claim be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

I claim:

1. An applicator comprising a squeeze container provided with a neck having an opening for permitting fluid flow therethrough and defining a valve seat, a valve member disposed in said neck and having an outwardly flared resilient valve head engaging said valve seat for closing said opening, a ring of larger diameter than said opening, said container having a shoulder engageable by said ring for holding said ring in a predetermined position spaced from said valve seat, spring means normally under compression integrally interconnecting said valve head and said ring for continuously urging said valve head into resilient engagement with said valve seat, said valve head having a plurality of bristles thereon extending outwardly of said container, said valve member further including an elongated rod integral with valve head extending through and below said ring and having an end remote from said valve head, said spring means including a plurality of spaced helical spring members under compression integrally interconnected to said ring and said end of said rod below said ring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,400,997 9/1968 Schwartzman 401186 3,444,808 5/1969 Schwartzman 101125 HARLAND S. SKOGQUIST, Primary Examiner US Cl. X.R. 401-264 

